Ten stand trial in Paris for sexist online harassment of France’s first lady
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Eight men and two women are accused of making malicious comments about the gender and sexuality of Mrs Brigitte Macron, wife of French President Emmanuel Macron.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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- Ten people face trial in Paris on October 27-28 for cyber-harassment of Brigitte Macron, stemming from false claims about her gender.
- The defendants, aged 41-60, are accused of malicious comments, some linking her age difference with President Macron to "paedophilia".
- Brigitte Macron and President Macron are also pursuing legal action in the US against Candace Owens for similar defamation claims.
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PARIS - Ten people will stand trial in Paris on Oct 27 and 28 for the alleged cyber-harassment of France’s first lady, Mrs Brigitte Macron, in the latest legal action sparked by false claims that she is a transgender woman who was born a man.
The eight men and two women, aged 41 to 60, being tried in a Paris criminal court, are accused of making numerous malicious comments about Mrs Macron’s gender and sexuality, even equating her age difference with her husband to “paedophilia”.
If convicted, they face up to two years in prison.
“These are tweets, posts that can be considered as harassment of Brigitte Macron,” Carlo Brusa, one of the defendants’ lawyers said, adding that his client was “serene”.
“He is part of hundreds of thousands, possibly millions of people who tweeted and re-tweeted this story considered as extraordinary - though less funny for Mrs Macron - a story known worldwide,” he added.
Unsubstantiated claims over Brigitte Macron’s gender have also been gaining ground in the United States, where Brigitte Macron and President Emmanuel Macron filed a defamation lawsuit
The false claims - which say that Brigitte Macron, 72, was born under the name Jean-Michel Trogneux, the actual name of her older brother - have long targeted the presidential couple, alongside criticism of their 24-year age gap.
The French first lady filed a complaint in August 2024 that led to an investigation into cyber-harassment and arrests in December 2024 and February 2025.
Mrs Macron’s lawyer could not be immediately reached for comment, while the presidential office declined comment.
In September, Mrs Macron won a lawsuit in a French court against two women, including a self-described medium, who contributed to spreading rumours about her gender.
An appeals court overturned that decision in July, and Mrs Macron has appealed to France’s highest court. REUTERS
